Sect followers end protests after assurance on 'MSG-2' screening

Hundreds of protestors from the Dera Sacha Sauda sect who had blocked railway tracks and roads in some parts of Punjab in the past two days, ended their protests on Monday after authorities assured them that a solution would be found regarding the screening of "Messenger of God-2" (MSG-2), the second movie starring their chief, godman Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

The assurance to the protestors was given by district authorities following talks between both sides on Monday.

The sect followers, including scores of women, had blocked railway tracks and roads in the last two days at some places in south Punjab to oppose the "unofficial ban" on the film's screening in Punjab, putting people to inconvenience.

Protestors had blocked rail tracks and roads in Moga, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Amritsar and Jalandhar districts despite inclement weather and rain.

Authorities in Bathinda and other districts assured sect supporters that a solution for the screening of the controversial film would be found this week.

The sect, which has its headquarters near Sirsa town in neighbouring Haryana, has lakhs of followers across Punjab.

The followers claimed that "MSG 2" film was not being screened in theatres and multiplexes in Punjab despite no official ban by the state government.

They said cinema owners were not screening the movie citing law and order issues.

Cinema owners are worried that members of the Sikh community would oppose the film's screening. The sect has a history of run-ins with the Sikh community.

The film, a sequel to "Messenger of God" movie, was released on nearly 2,000 screens across the country on Friday.